Wednesday, June 01, 2005

Christian Programs

It has long been on my heart to use the wisdom I have gained as a birth professonal to start a Christian program. I had started teaching Christian prenatal classes in Camrose before we moved, though the move happened before they were well known. Our two and a half years in Lloyd were very difficult for me as shortly after our move there I had entrusted someone and was betrayed severely for that. I found myself not wanting to reach out during that time and despite our seeking a church, we were unable to find one that met our needs.

Since our move to Spruce Grove a year ago, we have been met with open arms by everyone we have met and joined an amazing, Spirit-filled church that has met each of our needs. That church is Immanuel Lutheran Church of Rosenthal which also has a healing ministry of counselling and chiropractic care. In April I approached the clergy about starting a new Prenatal & Parenting ministry. My ideas were met with open arms by both pastors and the church members as it has been a long-term vision to expand the healing ministry. My vision is to expand the current ministries (which includes a New Mom's ministry) to encompass support programs including:

  • Christian Childbirth Education
  • Childbirth Doula Support Services
  • Postpartum Doula Support Services
  • Titus II Ministry (experienced mothers mentoring younger mothers)
  • Toddler Time (for "graduates" of our New Mom's group)
  • Parenting Workshops
  • and more

There are a core group of four of us now and through my recent childbirth doula training in May I have another woman whom I hope to attract to our church as well to join our team. The postpartum doula training I will be teaching this weekend will complete the first phase of our program from which we will plan how the proposed programs will work next week.

I will continue blogging on this as it is very near my heart as I grow as a Christian and continue to minister to mothers and their families through these programs.

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